Game 111: Twins 7, Indians 2

by Ryan on Aug 7, 2010 10:20 PM EDT in Game Recaps

The Indians had many missed opportunities in last night's game, but they got away with it. Tonight they missed more opportunities, and this time the Twins made them pay.

Fausto Carmona and LGFT Carl Pavano matched pitching lines through most of the game. Pavano, who has been Minnesota's best pitcher, allowed two runs in the fourth inning, but help the Indians in check after that. The Indians had golden opportunities to tie or take the lead in the sixth and seventh innings, but couldn't get runners home. In the sixth, Matt LaPorta came to the plate with runners on second and third and one out and grounded out to the third baseman; the runners couldn't advance. In the seventh, Asdrubal came up in the same situation and also grounded out, this time to the first baseman.

After Pavano struck out Shelley Duncan to end the seventh, the Twins broke it open. Carmona came out for the eighth, in retrospect an ill-advised moved. He served up Trevor Plouffe's first major-league home run, then a double off the bat of Joe Mauer. He would get Delmon Young to fly out, and then was taken out. Tony Sipp came in to face Jason Kubel, but walked the left-hander, then gave up two straight hits, scoring three more runs. By the time the Twins were done in the seventh, the game was out of reach. In this series, the template that had been working since the All-Star Break (keep it close until the later innings) hasn't been working, as the bullpen has given up eight runs in the first two games of this series.

20100807_twins_indians_0_84_lbig__medium

via www.fangraphs.com

Highest WPA		Lowest WPA
Jordan Brown	.243	Asdrubal Cabrera	-.221
Trevor Crowe	.111	Fausto Carmona	-.172
Shin-Soo Choo	.006	Shelley Duncan	-.115

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Just got back from the park. The game was (as seen above) pretty frustrating, but man it was good to see and hear Kenny again. That whole pre-game ceremony and the response it got from the fans was definitely worth the trip.

--
"Most players will tell you that even when they're 100%, they're not really 100% ... if that makes sense."

by vbc3 on Aug 7, 2010 10:58 PM EDT reply actions

Did you notice that Hamilton included two pennants in Kenny’s Tribe accomplishments? Aside from that the atmosphere for the ceremony was amazing and Kenny totally deserved it.

by The Grimace on Aug 8, 2010 1:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Never totally sure what we consider a “pennant” these days, but generally, I guess going to the World Series is it.

Lofton played on nine division champs: 1995 Indians, 1996 Indians, 1997 Braves, 1998 Indians, 1999 Indians, 2001 Indians, 2003 Cubs, 2004 Yankees, and 2007 Indians.

He also played on two Wild Card teams, the 2002 Giants (who won the Division and LC series but lost the World Series) and the 2006 Dodgers (who were swept in the first round), for a total of 11 postseason berths.

Those 11 playoff teams went 7-4 in the Division Series — so Lofton played in seven League Championship Series over his last 13 seasons, 1995-2007. That’s pretty remarkable in itself.

The seven Division Series winners produced only two “pennants” or league champions, the 1995 Indians and the 2002 Giants.

by Jay on Aug 8, 2010 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions

how many more times do we think Jordan Brown will be on top of that left column?

I have been complimented many times and they always embarrass me; I always feel that they have not said enough.

by notthatnoise on Aug 8, 2010 2:04 AM EDT reply actions

This year? I put the over/under at 2.5

by westbrook on Aug 8, 2010 2:46 AM EDT up reply actions

I am not adverse to him getting some ab’s as long as they are only Crowe ab’s

by stuart dean on Aug 8, 2010 7:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Yes. Has anyone noticed that Crowe is SECOND on the current roster in AB’s (after Choo). Kearns and Peralta have more, but they’re gone. That’s unbelievable and cries out for someone to take AB’s away from him!

'If I'm not here, 'I'll be somewhere else.'' Andy Marte

by peter m on Aug 8, 2010 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d bitch, but I feel that the main effect of his AB has been to keep them from even less deserving players.

by Jay on Aug 8, 2010 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions

This is true. And that’s a sad commentary on the Indians’ upper-level outfield prospects.

'If I'm not here, 'I'll be somewhere else.'' Andy Marte

by peter m on Aug 9, 2010 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Only at the big-league-ready level. As much as anything, it’s an indication that they don’t think Weglarz is ready, not that he isn’t a great prospect.

by Jay on Aug 9, 2010 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Again, true. I hope he matures quickly.

'If I'm not here, 'I'll be somewhere else.'' Andy Marte

by peter m on Aug 10, 2010 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions

At the game, it was obvious that Carmona should not have come out for the eighth. Though only at 96 pitches, he had been living on the margins all night – being hit hard and high FB/GB. I told the person next to me that things were going to come apart pretty fast. Now if it was that obvious to me…

by stuart dean on Aug 8, 2010 7:49 AM EDT reply actions

Marte starting at third today. But Huff is pitching, right? Figures. They put our best defensive third baseman in when the majority of batted balls will be heading for the gaps and over the fence.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Aug 8, 2010 11:22 AM EDT reply actions

Garko was apparently unavailable for OF services

by stuart dean on Aug 8, 2010 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Was Marson (or gimenez) hurt in this game? MLB network saying Indians catcher left the game with ankle injury after they show a twins player sliding into his leg/foot (eerily familiar encounter)

In the new Geico commercial, Marte sings "Let me be myself" on Wedge's front lawn (with the cavemen).

by V-Mart Shopper on Aug 8, 2010 12:16 PM EDT reply actions

No, Casilla was hurt on that slide into Gimenez. Crowe pinch hit for Gimenez much later in the game.

by The Grimace on Aug 8, 2010 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Not that I’m aware of. Casilla was the slider, and he left the game after that. Marson came in for Gimenez sometime later, around the 7th, after Crowe pinch hit for him.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Aug 8, 2010 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I was wondering where the heck Marson came from. All of a sudden Hammy kept saying his name.

by westbrook on Aug 8, 2010 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Westy....

Thanks for your response concerning Choo. There is a certain Tiger troll who seems to be convinced that Choo will become a FA in 2011. You know, ‘the Dolan is cheap crap’ crowd, which irritates me. I’m saying there is NO WAY Choo is a FA and they will pay his arbitration. Any idea how much Boras will demand ?? Thanks and I will end this.

by 27ftBaja on Aug 8, 2010 12:54 PM EDT reply actions

Since his agent is Boras, I’m sure Choo will be a free agent after 6 years service time, and I’m sure the tribe will have to pay a fortune in arbitration in the meantime.

In the new Geico commercial, Marte sings "Let me be myself" on Wedge's front lawn (with the cavemen).

by V-Mart Shopper on Aug 8, 2010 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Any idea how much Boras will demand ??

The firstborn son of everyone in Egypt.

It has nothing to do with Dolan being cheap. It has everything to do with Boras. He’ll see to it that Choo hits the open market and prices himself out of the range of every team but the highest bidders.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Aug 8, 2010 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions

I think the question is about arbitration here, which will of course dampen the salary. I’m no salary expert — maybe Choo will get $6 million in arbitration?

by Chemo on Aug 8, 2010 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions

But none of this will happen in 2011.

by Jay on Aug 8, 2010 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Of course not.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Aug 8, 2010 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I think that was his main point, though. The troll is saying that Dolan won’t even let the team take Boras to arbitration — where, by the way, Boras almost always loses.

by Jay on Aug 8, 2010 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions